Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-10-14
FAIR Spy.
BY FLOYD G. GARNETT

Ioftuk " oCii oitoi tnO ~S~"@
ner ofsoldiers of duty, when mes
sepger.boy approached me and po-
litely touching his cap, handed me
q message.
It was a hasty note from the Col
onel requesting my immediate pres
ence.
arose, and following the mes
senger out of my tent, started In
search of Col. Edwards.
/ found him seated in front of
his tent putting a fragrant Havana
and deeply absorbed In thought
The sound of my footstep attracted
his attention, and he raised his
head as drew near.
"You sent for me ~ l asked.
He made no reply, but entering
the tent motioned for me to follow.
al have news for you, Lieutenant.
We have a spy in our camp were
the Coloneps first words.
"Impossible y l exclaimed IN my
establishment at such unexpected
and unwelcome intelligence.
81 would that you were right
But tits all too true, My evidence
is conclusive. Knowing your abil-
ity in that line, haye sent for you
to undertake the task of searching
ont the unwelcome visitor"
He then placed in my hands the
evidence that he had collected, and,
unwilling though l was, ! was CON-
PEELED to admit that there was a
spy within our lines.
The task of capturing the spy
proved no small undertaking, and
was about to give MP in despair
when a lucky circumstance threw
him in ny way. He was a small,
boyish.looking fellow, connected
with the quartermaster's depart
ment. His mode of procedure had
been to collect his information, and
then, aided by the darkness Of the
nights, would place his message
upon a piece of bark or wood and
Goat it down the river to his CON-
paniOns. lie appeared very indif-
ferent when | clasped the hand.
cuffs upon his delicate wrists, and
made no resistance or denials, and
withal appeared utterly unconscious
of his danger.
l promptly Conducted bin to the
Colonel and related the circumstance
Of his arrest AMI Of his conduct IN
der it, and alsopresented him with
the papers fond upon the person
of the prisoner, proving undeniably
his guilt.
"His guilt cannot be questioned,
Colonel was the decision of one OF
bis staff who happened to be pres
ent.
noticed an unusual flush upon
the Coloueps face &C this, and he
seemed unaccountsbly confused
The spy, however, remained un-
moved and the expression of bis
= stolld face never changed 10 the
least.
psWhat is your name, sir !" asked
the Colonel, cOllectinghimself with
an effort.
edward Alton,7 was the clear,
steady reply, and to methere seem.
ed tone of triumph in the voice.
After a snort consultation with his
staff the Colonel ordered me to
take the prisoner to the guard
Z house. As the night had the ap-
pearance of being a stormy one
the prospect of guarding The spy
was far from being pleasant one.
was considerably surprised as
we'll as pleased to be relieved from
duty an hour later by the ColOnel's
srder, my place being filled by
ntund German, the raw recruit Of
tn regiment.
imade my way to my quarters,
inwSdly thanking the Colonel for
his kadness in my behalf.
Theaext morning it was noised
all oveIcamp that the spy had eff.
iected b. escape. How it had been
ohcOeou ~ one knew.
The Coloel investigated the mat
ter withoutfsult, and the case sOor
passed from hmory. A week later
as our brigadeyas about to 90 in
to action, q IA, dark, handsome
man approachedJoI. Edwards.
"a word witt you, Colonel
please"
A shade Of annoyance passed
over the Colonies fee.
He stopped, howe,sr, to hea
what he might say. When the,
were alone together tie stranger
"a dark face became eFen darker an,
his fierce black eye glittered dan
gerously.
at is needless to Introduce my
self, Colonel ; you hare known M
too long to make that necessary. =
Perhaps" and the stranger tor
the beard from bis face, "psrhap
you have met nae beforsr
"Allen Kerr p gasped the Cole
mel.
"The same by your leave. Gla
Won recognize an old acquaintance
BIT to business. may as we'll in
form you, sir, that | have been 1
camp long enough to witness tn
arrest and escane of the rehel snv.